₦airaland Forum

In all this BRICS "power" show and alliance, I see South Africa as the pawn who's gonna cry bitterly when it eventually turn murky.

Remember they have no NUCLEAR WEAPON (a huge percentage of the alliance has), nor any effective air defense system.

sangresan:
This is not a Russian oil tanker. Some misinformed folks keep posting fake news to deceive gullible people. These are oil tankers that hurriedly procure Russian flags in order to escape US sanctions in the Venezuelan oil trade. Many of them were flying other national flags few months ago and they don't have Russian insurers in the first place.

Why did Russia send submarine and a ship to fight off the first seizure albeit unsuccessful?

Russia fired a nuclear-capable missile at Ukraine late Thursday in a retaliatory strike for an alleged attack on an official residence of President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian Defense Ministry said an Oreshnik hypersonic missile was launched from a strategic nuclear testing site during massive overnight bombing of the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, less than 50 miles from the Polish border.

Explosions were reported in Lviv after the threat of an intermediate-range ballistic missile was detected from Russia’s Kapustin Yar site just before midnight, the Ukrainian air force said in a statement early Friday.

The Oreshnik — Russian for hazel tree — is a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear payload and reaching Mach 10.

Ukrainian officials measured one missile, believed to be the Oreshnik, at 8,000 mph.

Russia also deployed drones and high-precision long-range land- and sea-based weapons during the late-night strikes.

“The strike’s targets were hit. The targets included facilities producing unmanned aerial vehicles used in the terrorist attack (allegedly against the Putin residence), as well as energy infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s military-industrial complex,” the ministry said in a statement.

Russian officials said the attack was in response to Putin’s claims that Ukraine had attempted to assassinate him at one of his residences with a massive drone strike in December.

CIA and Ukrainian officials dismissed the attack on Putin’s residence in the northwest Novgorod region, describing it as “a complete fabrication,” finding no evidence to support the Russian tyrant’s wild allegation.

Officials claimed the attack was Putin’s attempt to derail ongoing peace negotiations to end the nearly four-year-old invasion.

Thursday’s strike marks only the second time Russia has fired the missile across the border into Ukraine and signals an ominous threat to Ukraine and its Western allies.

It was first used in an attack around Dnipro back in November 2024.

Putin said he fired the first missile in response to Kyiv’s use of British and American missiles to attack Russian territory.

Putin described it as a medium-range missile, countering Ukraine’s claim that it was the first use of a full intercontinental ballistic missile.

The proximity of Thursday’s blast to NATO member Poland heightened fears of possible escalation.

Russian officials claimed the strikes damaged drone production sites and energy infrastructures.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi wrote on Telegram that the explosions damaged unspecified infrastructure.

Source: https://nypost.com/2026/01/09/world-news/russia-possibly-fired-nuclear-capable-missle-in-latest-attack-ukraine/?utm_source=twitter&utm_social_handle_id=17469289&utm_medium=social&utm_social_post_id=646716074&utm_campaign=nypost

This should be an easy one for Cameron.

Just In: US military Seizes another Russian Oil tanker in the Caribbean sea

Source

Previous Seizure: https://www.nairaland.com/8595497/uk-defense-admits-supported-us#138065761

saphiere:
And God created all things and saw it was good. He gave them to Adam for food. Man is arresting daughter of Adam for eating food.

Now it's involved a 'mentally deranged ' WOMAN, you remember to quote your religious book, had it been the other way round you'll be all over this thread crying animal cruelty or even accuse the man of "raping " the cat before murdering it to cover up for the crime.

Hypocrite.

I was right

She's Haitian

Donald J. Trump

@realDonald Trump

Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of "Seeking Peace." This is a very important and smart gesture. The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure. Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed, however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes. At least 100 Billion Dollars will be invested by BIG OIL, all of whom I will be meeting with today at The White House. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President

DJT

source

Irrespective of Osimen shenanigans, this write up is unnecessary. The punch giving a nod to this article justify how useless Lagos-Ibadan Newspapers has always been.

Publishing a hit piece on an individual who wanted a better outcome for his team isn't just stupid it's ridiculous.

Osimen has flown the flag of this great country to a height even the tenth generation of this useless writer wouldn't clinch an inch.

This year would be my first year on earth without harmattan

UK provides support to U.S. seizure of Bella 1 accused of shadow fleet activities and Iran sanctions breaches

The UK has provided enabling support to the United States at their request to interdict the vessel Bella 1 today.

UK armed forces provided pre-planned operational support, including basing, to U.S. military assets interdicting the Bella 1 between the UK and Iceland following a U.S. request for assistance. RFA Tideforce is providing support for U.S. forces pursuing and interdicting the Bella 1, while the RAF provided surveillance support from the air.

The UK and U.S. defence and security relationship is the deepest in the world and the UK provided enabling support in full compliance with international law

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:
Our UK Armed Forces showed skill and professionalism in support of a successful U.S. interception of the vessel Bella 1 while on its way to Russia. This action formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting.

This ship, with a nefarious history, is part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fuelling terrorism, conflict, and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine.

The UK will continue to step up our action against shadow fleet activity to protect our national security, our economy, and global stability – making Britain secure at home and strong abroad.

The Bella 1 is sanctioned by the U.S. under its counter-Iran sanctions, aimed at stopping Iran from fuelling instability in the Middle East through the profits of illegal oil sales.

The ship, initially flying a false flag, turned off its transponders while at sea and sought to reflag while being pursued, indicating its nefarious links to global sanctions evasion.

Assessments going back several years that the Bella 1 has been involved in illegal activity, linked to international terrorism and crime including Hezbollah, and part of the web of rising shadow activity that fuels and finances nefarious activity across the globe

The Russian flagging of the vessel shows their role in this interconnected shadow activity we are seeing across the world, which threatens our national security, harms our economy and undermines global security.

Source:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-provides-support-to-us-seizure-of-bella-1-accused-of-shadow-fleet-activities-and-iran-sanctions-breaches

Kaymax2222:
even with what you painted she reversed and engage drive to drive off and she was shot like a criminal, so evading arrest now warrant been killed?

The question is why would she obstruct a LAWFUL FEDERAL OPERATION?

She got her self in that situation, using her vehicle to block ICE from carrying out the duty

Houseofglam7:
Chances are, she did that to herself to garner sympathy.

Absolutely.

There are multiple reports coming out that she's not a resident of Minneapolis (where the incident took place), and that she's been in at least three protests against ICE and federal agents.

Prior to her being shot, no one was pointing a gun at her, the officer only activated self defense when she miscalculated her liberal mind and accelerate the pedal aiming towards his direction

Kaymax2222:
what the F are you talking about that the ice agent was defending himself in that situation when it was clear the woman was driving away. And this is just someone they suspected not like she had been accused of anything yet and she was shot at like that and killed and you think that's okay?

Go see the videos, different angles, you'll understand that she got her self in that mess up situation.

There was an agent at the driver side trying to talk to her while another was approaching from the rear, she wheeled the tire right and pump the gas, putting the agent [at the rear] in and impending danger who then got on self defense and shoot.

As I said earlier, go watch the incident, there are multiple angles of it on X, stop depending on liberals talking point.

Biodun556:
Is this what they called human right and democracy ?

You are here again spreading propaganda.

No US court would allow a camera in the court room featuring a high profile case like Maduro.

PS. The image has been flagged as AI generated.

dominique:
ICE agents shot an innocent woman dead yesterday, the land of the free is turning into the biggest violators of human rights thanks to the lunatic voted into power. The world is watching

Stop spreading propaganda.

The agent acted on self defense, the bullet went through the wind shield which means she was aiming directly to the agent.

FreeStuffsNG:
You're ignorant if you keep lumping them together. Now it's Trump and others.
That's why the others are scared of Putin.

Putin been fighting Ukraine for a decade now, Trump just got a head of state in just 86 minutes without suffering casualty.

Tell me who's more feared now

Federal Council freezes any assets held in Switzerland by Nicolás Maduro

On 5 January 2026, the Federal Council decided to freeze any assets held in Switzerland by Nicolás Maduro and other persons associated with him with immediate effect. In doing so, the Federal Council aims to prevent an outflow of assets. The asset freeze does not affect members of the current Venezuelan government. Should future legal proceedings reveal that the funds were illicitly acquired, Switzerland will endeavour to ensure that they benefit the Venezuelan people. The asset freeze is in addition to the sanctions against Venezuela that have been in place since 2018 under the Embargo Act.

On 3 January 2026, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was arrested by US forces in Caracas and flown to the United States. The situation is volatile, and several scenarios are possible in the coming days and weeks. Switzerland is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela. It has called for de-escalation, restraint and compliance with international law, including the prohibition of the use of force and the principle of respect for territorial integrity. Switzerland has also repeatedly offered its good offices to all sides in order to find a peaceful solution to the situation.

The Federal Council wants to ensure that any illicitly acquired assets cannot be transferred out of Switzerland in the current situation. Under the Federal Act on the Freezing and the Restitution of Illicit Assets Held by Foreign Politically Exposed Persons (FIAA), it has therefore decided, as a precautionary measure, to freeze any assets held in Switzerland by Mr Maduro and other persons associated with him. The asset freeze does not affect any members of the current Venezuelan government.

This asset freeze issued in accordance with the FIAA is in addition to the existing sanctions against Venezuela under the Embargo Act, which have been in force since 2018 and also include asset freezes. The new asset freezes under the FIAA target individuals who have not previously been sanctioned in Switzerland. The reasons behind Mr Maduro's fall from power do not play a decisive role in asset freezes under the FIAA. Nor does the question of whether the fall from power occurred lawfully or in violation of international law. The decisive factor is that a fall from power has occurred and that it is now possible that the country of origin will initiate legal proceedings in the future with regard to illicitly acquired assets.

The asset freeze serves to enable any future mutual legal assistance proceedings. Should these reveal that the funds were illicitly acquired, Switzerland will endeavour to use them for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.

The asset freeze comes into force today with immediate effect and will remain valid for four years until further notice.

Source:https://www.news.admin.ch/en/newnsb/4mdMVbqPTwY-5XoVHeNVP

Russian general killed by car bomb in Moscow, officials say

A Russian general has been killed in a car bombing in Moscow, officials have said.

Russia's Investigative Committee said Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov died on Monday morning after an explosive device planted under a car detonated.

He is the third military official to have been killed in bomb attacks in the Russian capital over the last year.

Sarvarov, 56, was the head of the armed forces' operational training department, the committee said.

It added one theory being investigated was that the bomb was planted with the involvement of Ukrainian intelligence services. Ukraine has not commented.

Sarvarov died in hospital as a result of his injuries, the committee said, adding it had opened an investigation into murder and illegal trafficking of explosives.

Investigators have been sent to the scene, in a car park near an apartment block in the south of Moscow.

Images from the area show a badly damaged white Kia Sorento with the doors blown out, surrounded by other vehicles.

According to Russian media, Sarvarov previously took part in combat operations during the Ossetian-Ingush conflict and the Chechen wars in the 1990s and early 2000s, and also led operations in Syria between 2015-2016

Vladimir Putin was informed of Sarvarov's death immediately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a number of military officials and high-profile individuals have been targeted in the Russian capital.

Darya Dugina, the 29-year-old daughter of a prominent nationalist figure and Putin close ally, was killed in a suspected car bombing in 2022.

Gen Yaroslav Moskalik was killed in a car bomb attack last April, while Gen Igor Kirillov died in December 2024 when a device hidden in a scooter was detonated remotely.

A Ukrainian source later told the BBC that Kirillov was killed by Ukraine's security service, though this was never confirmed on the record. As a matter of policy, Ukraine never officially admits or claims responsibility for targeted attacks.

Source:https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8jwn9wznx1o.amp

Nlfpmod
Mynd44

Donald J. Trump


@realDonald Trump

Because of ISIS's vicious killing of brave American Patriots in Syria, whose beautiful souls I welcomed home to American soil earlier this week in a very dignified ceremony, I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible. We are striking very strongly against ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated. The Government of Syria, led by a man who is working very hard to bring Greatness back to Syria, and is fully in support. All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned - YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A.

DONALD J. TRUMP

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

source

Donald J. Trump

@realDonald Trump

Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before - Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us. The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping. For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela. The Illegal Aliens and Criminals that the Maduro Regime has sent into the United States during the weak and inept Biden Administration, are being returned to Venezuela at a rapid pace. America will not allow Criminals, Terrorists, or other Countries, to rob, threaten, or harm our Nation and, likewise, will not allow a Hostile Regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets, all of which must be returned to the United States, IMMEDIATELY. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Source: https://x.com/i/status/2001126583118213372

Very detailed analysis.

Bosun should cover his head in shame

MANCHESTER CITY
@ManCity

Check out the highlights from our Young Leader training in Lagos, Nigeria!

❤❤❤❤


Source

Oxford University Press has named ‘rage bait’ as the Oxford Word of the Year 2025.

Our language experts shortlisted three contenders—rage bait, aura farming, and biohack—that reflect our conversations and preoccupations over the past year. After three days of voting in which more than 30,000 people had their say, our experts chose rage bait after considering votes, the sentiment of public commentary, and their analysis of our lexical data.

Source:https://x.com/UniofOxford/status/1995403814224969820?t=nffjjtePSmYw9YGLExPcbQ&s=19

More than 10 US warships, including the country’s largest carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, are bearing down on the Caribbean amid escalating tensions between President Trump and Venezuela.

A Marine Expeditionary Unit capable of an amphibious land invasion has also been deployed as part of efforts to stem the flow of drugs into the US from the socialist country.

“The military’s job is to defend the homeland,” Secretary of the Navy John Phelan told Fox News on Saturday night. “That’s exactly what we’re doing, and we’re using our best assets to defend the homeland.

Drugs kill more Americans than we’ve ever lost in wars,” [/b]he said. “So I think at the end of the day, the president has correctly identified this as an attack on the country, which it is.”

[b]Venezuela’s socialist president, Nicolas Maduro, is being blamed for allowing narco vessels to set off from his country for the US.

Among the 11 warships currently in the Caribbean is the USS Ford, which houses the Carrier Strike Group featuring nine carrier air wings, or more than 70 aircraft, including squadrons out of Virginia, Florida and Washington state.

Other ships deployed to the region include the USS Iwo Jamia, a Wasp-class amphibious assault vehicle capable of carrying up to six Harrier II attack aircraft.

The USS Gravely and the USS Stockdale, two naval guided-missile destroyers, are currently operating in the Caribbean along with the larger guided-missile cruisers, the USS Lake Erie and the USS Gettysburg.

Up to 2,200 Marines, based out of Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Base New River in North Carolina, are also stationed in the Caribbean.

In total, around 15,000 troops, including the Marines on ships and about 5,000 personnel at bases in Puerto Rico, are now in the region, the Conversation reported.

Roosevelt Roads naval base in Puerto Rico has been reopened as part of the buildup

Source: https://nypost.com/2025/11/30/us-news/11-us-warships-and-15000-troops-now-in-caribbean-amid-escalating-venezuela-tensions/?utm_source=twitter&utm_social_handle_id=17469289&utm_social_post_id=611472440&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nypost

Trump gave Venezuelan dictator Maduro stern ultimatum — leave now or else: report

President Trump gave Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro a strongly worded ultimatum as tensions flared with the South American nation — telling him to resign and leave or else, according to a bombshell report.

During a call between Trump and Maduro, the socialist president demanded that he be allowed to maintain control of Venezuela’s military if he paved the way for free elections there, said the Miami Herald, citing sources. Maduro also reportedly sought global amnesty for all of his alleged crimes.

Trump’s refusal on both counts was said to be swift as he followed up with an offer that Maduro may not be able to refuse: Leave now or else.

The pair’s talks quickly broke down, with a US pol Sunday lamenting that the ongoing “war” between both sides is already deadlier than Vietnam for his state.

“We have a war that’s coming through fentanyl, through opioids, through cocaine,” US Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) told “Fox News Sunday,” referring to the avalanche of drugs from Venezuela to the US that Trump blames Maduro for and is trying to stop.


“It killed 100,000 Americans last year,” McCormick said of the drug trade. “That’s twice the number of people that died in eight years of Vietnam — 4,000 Pennsylvanians.”

After the phone call between Trump and Maduro failed to reach a detente, the US president announced he was closing the airspace around the South American country — as America’s largest warship, the USS Gerald F. Ford, and a Marine Expeditionary Unit — capable of amphibious invasion — float offshore

Trump only told reporters Sunday that he spoke with Maduro recently, adding, “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly.”

The tense phone call between Trump and Maduro reportedly took place late in the week of Nov. 16, according to the New York Times, just days after Trump said he was open to talking with the dictator.

The call reportedly saw Trump’s and Maduro’s teams go over the details of what a surrender from the Venezuelan strongman would be like, given that the state department has a bounty on his head for $50 million.

Trump informed Maduro during their chat that he, his wife and son would be allowed to leave Venezuela safely, but they must do it immediately, sources said.
First, Maduro asked for global amnesty for any crimes he and his group had committed, and that was rejected,” a source familiar with the call told the Herald.

“Second, they asked to retain control of the armed forces — similar to what happened in Nicaragua in ’91 with Violeta Chamorro. In return, they would allow free elections,” the source said.
The offer of amnesty was also extended to Maduro’s top allies, the Herald noted.

After the breakdown, Trump ramped up pressure on Venezuela and warned that the US would target drug-trafficking networks “by land” soon.

By Saturday, he made an announcement on social media that Venezuela’s airspace should be considered “closed in its entirety,” stoking fears of a looming war in the South American country of 28 million people.

Source: https://nypost.com/2025/11/30/us-news/trump-told-maduro-in-call-he-must-leave-venezuela-in-order-to-save-himself-and-his-family-report/?utm_campaign=nypost&utm_medium=social&utm_social_handle_id=17469289&utm_social_post_id=611398413&utm_source=twitter

In the past our forefathers who occupied this position never meddled in frivolous act such as what we see today, infact they barely leave their respective palace.

What changed, does our traditional institute no longer as powerful as it were?

LordReed:
Why would he plead guilty if he did nothing wrong?

He did absolutely no wrong, he was convicted of a shady deal on his platform ( of which as at then he had no power or right to fight it off). More like someone using your invention in a dubious way and you actually can't detect it.

He was unfairly imprisoned by Biden, and he didn't plead guilty.

Mosquitoes have been found in Iceland for the first time after the country experienced record-breaking heat this spring.

Insect enthusiast Bjorn Hjaltason encountered the mosquitoes over several nights last week while using wine-soaked ropes to observe moths, local media reported.

Mr Hjaltason found two female mosquitoes and one male which were later confirmed to be Culiseta annulata, one of few species that can successfully survive winter.

Iceland was one of only two mosquito-free havens in the world prior to the discovery, partly due to its cold climate. The only other recorded mosquito-free zone is Antarctica.

The mosquitoes were found in Kjós, a glacial valley to the South West of the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik.

Mr Hjaltason shared the news of his discovery on a Facebook page for local wildlife alongside pictures of the insects, describing "a strange fly on a red wine ribbon", according to Icelandic media.

"I could tell right away that this was something I had never seen before" he said in the post, which was screenshotted and shared by Iceland's Morgunblaðið news site, adding "the last fortress seems to have fallen."

Mr Hjaltason sent the insects to the Icelandic Institute of Natural History to be identified, where entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson confirmed his suspicions.

The species are common across parts of Europe and North Africa but it it isn't clear how they reached Iceland, Alfreðsson told CNN.

Iceland's cold climate and lack of stagnant water in which the insects can breed are key contributors to the country's former lack of mosquitoes, the World Population Review said.

But this year, the country broke multiple records for its high temperatures.

Typically, Iceland rarely experiences highs of more than 20C (68F) in May, and when it does those heatwaves will last for no more than two to three days, its Met Office notes. That threshold was exceeded for 10 consecutive days this year in different parts of the country, though.

Iceland also saw its hottest ever day in May, with temperatures reaching 26.6C (79.8F) at Eglisstaðir Airport.

A June study published by the Global Heat Health Information Network noted that such shifts could have "significant" impacts on delicate ecosystems, which have adapted to the cold climate and are sensitive to temperature shifts.

Last year was the world's hottest on record, and the UN's climate body has established that human influence has "unequivocally" warmed the atmosphere, oceans and land.

Further monitoring will be required in spring to see if the mosquito species has "truly become established in Iceland", Alfreðsson added.

Hjaltason, meanwhile, has speculated on the origin of the specimens he observed.

"One always suspects Grundartangi - it's only about six kilometers from me, and things often arrive with ships and containers, so it's possible something came in that way," he told Morgunblaðið.

"But if three of them came straight into my garden, there were probably more."

Source:https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyz3vv62pgo.amp

Donald J. Trump


@realDonald Trump

Numerous of our NOW GREAT ALLIES in the Middle East, and areas surrounding the Middle East, have explicitly and strongly, with great enthusiasm, informed me that they would welcome the opportunity, at my request, to go into GAZA with a heavy force and "straighten our Hamas" if Hamas continues to act badly, in violation of their agreement with us. The love and spirit for the Middle East has not been seen like this in a thousand years! It is a beautiful thing to behold! I told these countries, and Israel, "NOT YET!" There is still hope that Hamas will do what is right. If they do not, an end to Hamas will be FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL! I would like to thank all of those countries that called to help. Also, I would like to thank the great and powerful country of Indonesia, and its wonderful leader, for all of the help they have shown and given to the Middle East, and to the U.S.A. TO EVERYONE, thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

Source:https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1980623129434288500?t=IBl4tscMfm5VNucWBJ_tVA&s=19

Staunch conservative Sanae Takaichi was elected Japan’s first female prime minister by parliament on Tuesday, in a landmark moment for the historically patriarchal country where both politics and workplaces are dominated by older men.

Takaichi steps into the role as Japan faces mounting economic woes and a fractured politics, and just days before US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit.

The 64-year old Takaichi, who is a heavy metal drummer and motorcycle enthusiast, grew up in Nara near Osaka. Her arrival at the pinnacle of Japanese politics tops a remarkable rise, from TV presenter to flag bearer of traditional and nationalist ideals.

In her first news conference as prime minister on Tuesday night, Takaichi focused heavily on economic issues and advancing Japan’s interests, saying that she will “work boldly and tirelessly, unafraid of change” for “the nation and its people.”

A protege of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi has laid claim to his conservative legacy. She becomes the fourth prime minister to hold office since he stepped down in 2020, reflecting the political deadlock in the world’s fourth largest economy

Like Abe, she supports revising Japan’s pacifist constitution and has visited a controversial war shrine that includes the names of those convicted of war crimes during World War II – both issues that spark anger in neighboring China and South Korea, who are also vital trade partners for Japan.

She also opposes same-sex marriage, and a growing movement to allow married couples to use separate surnames.

Some of these stances, such as her hawkish views on China, could complicate Japan’s regional relationships. And within Japan, some worry about her economic proposals – to spend big and cut taxes – as the country struggles with sky-high inflation and living costs.

She has openly aspired to be like Margaret Thatcher, the first woman to become British prime minister – known as the “Iron Lady,” a nickname that has since been used for Takaichi herself

“Like Thatcher, (Takaichi) is a conservative and she is also a woman in a male-dominated world,” said Shihoko Goto, vice president of programs at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

“That said, Thatcher was then – Japan is now. It’s facing a great deal of change, it’s facing a lot of internal domestic pressure … She will be expected, first and foremost, to deal with those immediate threats.”

In her news conference Tuesday night, Takaichi said that she will “build a strong Japanese economy and protect Japan’s national interests at all costs through diplomacy and security.”

Vowing to “reclaim Japan’s diplomacy and let it flourish at the center of the world,” Takaichi said that “Japan faces a major crisis from within and without. There is no time to stand still.”

She noted that she will soon be meeting with Trump, adding that she will work to “elevate Japan-US relations to new heights.”

Japan’s neighbors offered lukewarm responses to news of her win on Tuesday, with China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying it had “noted the election results” and hoped for a “mutually beneficial relationship.”

A South Korean foreign ministry spokesperson similarly promised to continue cooperating with “Japan’s new Cabinet,” without naming Takaichi, according to news agency

Unlike many of her male peers, Takaichi doesn’t come from a political dynasty. She was born in Nara, a city frequented by tourists for its wild deer, to a father who worked for a car company and a mother who was a police officer.

Before entering politics, she interned for a US Democratic congresswoman and worked as a TV commentator.

Since joining the ruling LDP party, Takaichi has been elected as a member of parliament nine times. She’s held multiple cabinet posts, including on gender equality and demographic issues, and chaired the party’s Policy Research Council. Most recently, she served as minister of economic security under the administration of Fumio Kishida.

She was elected leader of the LDP earlier in October, beating more moderate candidates. It suggested a rightward turn for the scandal-hit party, which suffered bruising losses in the last two parliamentary elections after discontented voters switched to new far-right groups.

But now as prime minister, she’ll have to answer to the populace of 120 million Japanese. Tackling the high price of goods will be one of her first challenges; for instance, the price of rice, a staple food in Japan, has almost doubled from last year.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/20/asia/japan-female-prime-minister-sanae-takaichi-intl-hnk?Date=20251021&Profile=cnnbrk&utm_content=1761027027&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Ooodua:
Till today, one single question has not been answered. Whats the name and image of ONE person shot to death that day?

In Apapa, I saw a corpse that was refused treatment by a hospital after being shot by port police in tincan. The hospital emergency room was burnt down by angry youths, they've since stop functioning